Here's where the Rays' Top 30 prospects will start the 2026 season
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With the Minor League season kicking off, here's where the Rays’ Top 30 Prospects are projected to start:
- Theo Gillen (MLB No. 72), OF -- Bowling Green (High-A)
- Brody Hopkins (MLB No. 81), RHP -- Durham (Triple-A)
- Jacob Melton, OF -- Durham (Triple-A)
- Daniel Pierce, SS -- Charleston (Single-A)
- Anderson Brito, RHP -- Bowling Green (High-A)
- TJ Nichols, RHP -- Montgomery (Double-A)
- Michael Forret, RHP -- Montgomery (Double-A)
- Santiago Suarez, RHP -- Montgomery (Double-A)
- Slater de Brun, OF -- Injured (wrist)
- Nathan Flewelling, C -- Bowling Green (High-A)
- Aidan Smith, OF -- Injured (hamstring)
- Caden Bodine, C -- Charleston (Single-A)
- Xavier Isaac, 1B -- Extended spring training
- Jadher Areinamo, INF -- Montgomery (Double-A)
- Trevor Harrison, RHP -- Bowling Green (High-A)
- Jose Urbina, RHP -- Bowling Green (High-A)
- Ty Johnson, RHP -- Durham (Triple-A) injured list
- Tre' Morgan, 1B/OF -- Durham (Triple-A)
- Dom Keegan, C -- Durham (Triple-A)
- Brendan Summerhill, OF -- Charleston (Single-A)
- Victor Valdez, SS -- Extended spring training (Dominican Republic)
- Fabricio Blanco, SS -- Extended spring training (Dominican Republic)
- Brailer Guerrero, OF -- Charleston (Single-A)
- Homer Bush Jr., OF -- Durham (Triple-A)
- Austin Overn, OF -- Montgomery (Double-A)
- Gary Gill Hill, RHP -- Bowling Green (High-A)
- Cooper Flemming, SS -- Charleston (Single-A)
- Dean Moss, OF -- Charleston (Single-A)
- Taitn Gray, 1B/OF -- Charleston (Single-A)
- Jackson Baumeister, RHP -- Montgomery (Double-A)
Team to watch
High-A Bowling Green boasts the organization’s top prospect in Gillen, a 20-year-old outfielder with plus hitting and running tools, and one of its most electric arms in Brito, who was acquired along with Melton as part of a three-team trade with the Astros and Pirates in December. Flewelling has many fans with the club after a strong age-18 season in 2025, and a repeat showing at 19 could make him pop all the more in an already deep system. Harrison, Urbina and Gill Hill add plenty of length to the Hot Rods rotation.
Players we could see in MLB in 2026
The Rays acquired Melton from the Astros in the same deal as Brito, and there was some thought that he could challenge for an Opening Day spot in the outfield. Veteran free-agent signing Cedric Mullins took the center-field job instead, but Melton has plus power, speed and defensive tools that could make him a quick callup whenever Tampa Bay needs help on the grass. Hopkins has already flashed a 95-98 mph fastball, low-90s cutter and impressive mid-80s curveball with Durham, and if he can keep his control in check, he should be a rotation option by the second half. Morgan’s first-base defense could be valuable in the bigs immediately, but he has Jonathan Aranda blocking him at the cold corner.
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New faces
Always in prospect-acquisition mode, the Rays added six Top 30 prospects in offseason trades, getting Melton and Brito together from the Astros in the Brandon Lowe trade and Forret, de Brun, Bodine and Overn from the Orioles in the swap involving Shane Baz. The newbies are spread out across all four levels, but don’t be surprised if there are some quick movers among them. Forret has a diverse pitch mix that helped him post a 1.58 ERA with 91 strikeouts in 74 innings at High-A and Double-A in the O’s system last year, and former Coastal Carolina standout Bodine would probably be a High-A candidate if Flewelling wasn’t holding down priority work there above him.
On the shelf
Also among the new faces, de Brun underwent wrist surgery before his move to the Rays that has caused him to open 2026 without a Minor League club. It is not considered a long-term issue for the 18-year-old outfielder. Johnson initially made the Durham roster but has a low back strain that has forced him onto the Bulls’ seven-day injured list.
On the non-injury front, Isaac is being held back for a few extra at-bats in Port Charlotte before joining Double-A Montgomery for its home opener on Tuesday. The first baseman underwent “life-saving” brain surgery last July, and while he got some looks in the Grapefruit League, the Rays want him fully prepped before sending him back into Minor League action.
How to watch
Fans can watch Minor League Baseball games for free on the Bally Sports Live app or at BallySports.com. Fans may also purchase an MLB+ subscription, which includes access to MiLB games live and on demand, in addition to live MLB audio for all 30 teams, MLB Network and MLB Big Inning. Plus -- with or without a subscription -- Minor League games featuring MLB's top prospects are available in the MiLB Free Game of the Day.